Financial aid for first-year students is in the form of University fellowships. To apply, simply check the appropriate box on the application form; a separate form is not required. Students required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must achieve a score of at least 600 on the paper test or 250 on the computer-based test to be eligible for financial aid.
University Fellowships pay tuition plus a stipend of approximately $1,442 a month for twelve-month fellowships and $1,488 a month for nine-month fellowships. (The amount may change slightly to reflect inflation.)
Students who make satisfactory academic progress are supported by in their second through fourth years as Teaching Assistants or Research Assistants. These pay tuition plus a monthly stipend of $1,535 for nine months. Students who were admitted on twelve-month fellowships will also be supported during the summer.
Students from countries where English is not the native language must achieve a satisfactory on score on the Educational Testing Service's Test of Spoken English (TSE) to be eligible for a teaching assistantship. The score must be at least 45 for examinations taken before July 1997 or at least 50 for examinations taken in or after July 1997.
Some fifth year students are also supported by Teaching Assistantship and Research Assistants. However, support can also be obtained by applying for dissertation-year fellowships awarded by the University and some of its research centers. Some students teach in the evening, summer, or regular undergraduate program, to obtain experience that is an asset in the job market.
For more detailed information:
http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/financialaid/
